Star nka Clementine Celebrates Her First Birthday!

As you may recall, Tess’s litter of freedom babies celebrated their first birthday this weekend.
We received some photos that I had to share with you.  Star is now known as Clementine and has a Cairn brother Friskers.  Clemmie’s daddy was obviously a Poodle, but she surely has her mom’s sweet soft expression.

Clementine fka Star (Tess' Puppy)

If these photos don’t make you smile – well then you’ve really had a terrible day.

Friskers

Star Meets Her New Family

Puppy Star, of the Dr. Seuss group was escorted by Foster Mom Alice from St. Louis to Conneticut. 
Star's family was waiting eagerly for her. Brother Graham was excited because he got out of school early to come to the airport! 
Star was excited because she got to wear her favorite pink dress!!

Maggie: A Good Meal, Great Home - 3 Years of Happily Ever After!

Maggie’s road to freedom took another turn on Mother’s Day 2008.  She may not have known it yet, but she was home.    Maggie was a little nervous that day.  She laid down on a small rug and pretty much didn’t move.  She was not interested in exploring.

But when she heard her dinner being prepared, she lit up and did a little dance.  We had never seen a dog so happy to actually have food!  It literally brought tears to my eyes.  She relaxed a little more every day after that.  Guess she figured if we served food too, then maybe she would stick around.

Men have been a challenge for her.  It took almost 2 years for her to open her heart to my husband.  Today, she is pretty much a Daddy’s girl.   She still does not appreciate our son’s visits but she has learned to tolerate them better.

Our biggest concern at her adoption is how she would do with children as our Granddaughter, Lauren,  was 3 mos old.  No worries!  Maggie mothers that child and I do believe “Maggie” was Lauren’s 1^st word.  Of course that was a response to Maggie carrying off Lauren’s monkey but Lauren got her words out!

Maggie still has fears but it is amazing how relaxed this little girl has become.  And “happy tails”, let me tell you she does not stop at a simple tail wag . . . . it is more like a butt wag and the fastest tail in the land!   And for no other reason other than I walked in the room!   Maggie is a special little girl and she could not be loved more!  Thank you Colonel Potter for her freedom!

Bob & Cindy E (KS)

CP kids Maggie & Star

Star Burns Brightly and Celebrates Her Gotcha Day

In November 2008,  we participated in a transport for CP Tick and offered the 1^st night B&B.  We were in the process of a CP search for a new dog but I told my husband when we agreed to the B&B that she was a puppy (10 mos) and we agreed we didn’t need a puppy so do not fall in love.  When she got here, Bob set up her accommodations and gave her some toys.  She picked up the 1^st one and dropped it by his feet, he threw it, and before you knew it, the toy was back.  Say again with me Bob, “we do not need a puppy”.  We were both pretty amazed at how important people were to her and her fetching skills were already remarkable.  Star pretty much did not leave Bob the entire time she was here.  But he reluctantly said good bye the next morning and I continued with the next leg of the transport.  She ended up in Wisconsin in the middle of winter.  We continued our search for a new family member, and Tick constantly entered our conversations but we were concerned that her personality might be a little much for our current CP resident, Maggie.   When she was listed on the available Cairn page, I told Bob and he just lit up.  OK fine.  She had left an impression on both of us.  December 5, 2008, we traveled to a very cold and snowy Minnesota to meet her foster parents and retrieve Tick renamed Star Bright in honor of the Christmas season.   As it turned out, Maggie could not be more thrilled.  She was very happy to see Star and Maggie immediately assumed the Alpha role.   Star had no interest in leadership.  Star would rather be the class clown.  These two could not be better matched.  Bob and Star remain pretty much inseparable.  She is exceptionally smart and very loving.   She is a tad OCD which either provides our comedic relief or downright frustration because she can’t forget about that bunny that may or may not have been on the other side of the fence.  Thank you to all CP volunteers that brought Star into our lives.

Bob, Cindy, Maggie & Star E

Emporia, KS 

Maggie's Monumental Day

Happy Holidays to the group! I am basically just a lurker so do not post much. I am the proud Mom of Maggie (fka Obama) and Star (fka Tick).

Maggie is a typical puppy mill momma with some of the familiar fears. She by far is not the most scarred but still her transition from the scared little dog we picked up in May 2008 to today is remarkable. She never ceases to amaze us and it has been a rewarding experience.

The most frustrating thing that we have had to deal with though is her relationship with our Marine Son. He does not visit much and he is not much of a dog person. Strange in itself as my husband and I are! We know Maggie is not comfortable with men and her response is generally just stay away but no - not with our son - instead she barks and barks and barks.

Last Christmas we were prepared with toasted hotdogs and made Patrick sit still and make her come to him to get this special treat. And it did work unbelievably well. She did calm down. Not completely but it was bearable.

Now to my news!! Patrick returned home from his deployment last night. He has not been in this house for a year. It was midnight before we got home and we had also brought our 2 year old Granddaughter home. I did not have the strength to deal with Maggie and a sleeping child so although this sounds really rude, I asked Patrick if he could just quietly sneak to the basement while Maggie was outside and we would deal with her in the morning. Quite the reception for a returning Marine but it was the middle of the night!

So this morning he quietly climbs the stairs. Yes both dogs barked but Patrick extended his hand to Maggie and she quieted. He gave her some cereal and although at first she declined, she eventually did accept. The barking was over in seconds!!

He is able to move freely and although there is still some resistance and a bark here and there, it is absolutely peaceful! Yes, this is a monumental day!! Now if we can just get Maggie to stop carrying off our Granddaughter's toys . . . . !

And as for Star, she does not like strangers. She warms up quite fast but does not jump in their arms at any point. She had her initial bark or two but she is fine. She let him throw her ball but would not take it back to him. Not yet but maybe by the end of his stay. Merry Christmas everyone!

Cindy E in Emporia, KS

Happily owned by Maggie and Star

Maggie - A Different Dog

Hi everyone. I am the proud Mom to Maggie (fka Obama). Maggie has been with us for a tad over a year now. She is a great little dog.

Oh, she has had her “issues” for sure but we have worked through them. My husband and I look at her from time to time and realize how far she has come in this past year.

The fears she has overcome are many - from the can opener to a full flight of stairs. Thunderstorms are still the worst but we just have to accept that and move on.

She pretty much owns the dog park and must tell anyone and everyone hello.

Oh no one is allowed to touch her but she still must bounce up to them, tail wagging, to welcome them to her park.

Today, however, it was also quite apparent how comfortable she has become. My parents came to visit. Maggie has obviously met them before and has always respectively kept her distance. She might give them a conciliatory sniff and once even allowed my Mom the very brief opportunity for a quick pat on the head but that is about it. But today—what the heck—she crawled up on the sofa right next to my Mom, completely stretched out and took a nice little nap. We were all amazed. Not even the resemblance of an evil eye! Nope!

No more hiding in the corner for this one. The little accomplishments that make us all smile! We are so proud of her!

Cindy
Emporia, KS
Mom to Maggie and Star